Town impact fees can support fire department and parks

As his job title suggests, Michael Davolio is a man with a plan.

And in this case, it’s one not likely to stir debate or controversy.

The La Conner Town planner has drafted a proposed impact fee ordinance that the Town Council began studying last week to bolster stressed department budgets.

The plan is to add revenue to support the fire department and parks. After a lengthy discussion at its Sept. 27 hybrid meeting at Maple Hall, the council asked Davolio for further research so an impact fee schedule can be adopted on a yet wider scale.

The key point hinges on more funds for parks.

State guidelines allow fire departments to benefit from fees imposed on all development but parks receive funding related only to residential development, Davolio explained.

Councilmember Mary Wohleb pointed out that “Our restaurants and tourist industry benefit from our pocket parks.”

Davolio agreed and will research the possibility.

A presentation by Assistant Fire Chief Adam Avery started Davolio on the project.

“A few weeks ago,” Davolio recalled, “the fire department gave a presentation on its need for a fire boat and there have been discussions on the need for a ladder truck and there have also been discussions about our parks,” Davolio told council members.

“The big question becomes: ‘How do we pay for the things we need? Davolio explained. “Having an impact fee as a budget item can help pay for these things.”

Follow-up steps, following a successful state review, will have Town department heads revise respective capital budgets and create a separate resolution identifying specific impact fees and their amounts.

Council member Rick Dole said the timing is right for impact fees in La Conner.

“Budgets are tight,” said Dole. “I’m in favor of developers paying for these services.”

Wohleb, liaison to the parks commission, said that town parks have been “sorely underfunded.” She said citizens have had to make up shortfalls with private donations.

“It’s time for developers to pay up,” she said.

A draft ordinance prepared by former Mayor Dan O’Donnell confirming validity of the 1986 contract rezone of the property behind The Slider Café did not receive a council motion. The Kenyon Disend firm retained by the Town opined that the failure to record the Contract Rezone with the Skagit County Auditor’s Office likely means that it does not bind subsequent purchasers or owners, they wrote.

Town Administrator Scott Thomas recommended the proposed ordinance not be approved and Davolio cautioned that repeated use of the word “shall” in its draft “gives no option” for Council action were the ordinance enacted.

Councilmember Ivan Carlson, however, did endorse reaching out to Kate and Brandon Atkinson, owners of the property whose application has been approved for a 20-unit building on the site, to negotiate an accord.

“Maybe they would be amenable if we could offer some kind of compromise,” Carlson said.

The Atkinsons’ application for a conditional use permit to construct a three-story building in the residential neighborhood has bounced back and forth between the Town and Hearing Examiner David Lowell since March.

Thomas and Mayor Ramon Hayes revealed that the Town had approached the Atkinsons “some time ago” but said they did not receive “a receptive audience.”

“We spoke with the developer on behalf of the Town and asked if some accommodations might be made to get past this issue and come up with something the neighbors would find more acceptable,” Thomas said.

Dole said a hands-off approach should be taken since the matter is under appeal.

“We’re in an appeals process,” he said. “We have to be careful we don’t make a misstep here.

“We don’t have a contract rezone,” Dole added. “We have an approved project. We need to let this play out legally.”

“We inherited an extremely complicated situation from 1986,” Hayes said. “It’s left to you, the administration and myself to figure this out.”

Carlson, though, said further dialogue could prove beneficial.

“I don’t think it hurts to just talk to them and ask what would it take to redesign (the project) to meet the residents’ wishes,” he said.

Due to legal ramifications, it was proposed that the dialogue be between the Atkinsons and interested citizens as opposed to Town officials.

“If citizens want to work with them,” said Thomas, “have at it.”

“I’m encouraged if you want to talk to the Atkinsons,” Dole said to the audience, “and see if you can come up with something. We as an official body have to avoid appearing to interfere.”

Wohleb concurred.

“This is a really tough situation,” she said. “I have no problem with somebody in the community talking to the developer. But we’re in a process and need to respect that.”

In a related note: Councilmember MaryLee Chamberlain suggested scheduling more joint planning commission-council meetings, saying, “I think it would be great for us to have these conversations.”